Tube cleaning problems

[Steve Hackett]

Any suggestions for removing sun-oil stains from hypalon, they're dolphin watching ribs that people have been leaning over leaving sun-oil on the tubes. It's left black spots on the tubes that can just be felt with a fingernail but also appear to have spread into the material.
I've got a well known tube cleaner that gets everything else off but has no effect on this other than a very slight fading, i haven't but the owner assures me he's tried acetone.
Any ideas?

[chewy]

Might be best off getting it as clean as you can then just accepting the tubes are marked.
For the next season though apply a decent quality Carnauba wax, the RNLI used to use Meguiars Mirror wax #16 but it left the tubes very very slippy. Repels water really well and gives the tubes a nice deep colour.

Sorry I can't be of any more help.

[Poly]

Steve,

There are two generic products people on here swear by (as well as Rib Revive - which I guess is either what you used or similar). Either TFR - "Traffic Film Remover"; or spray paint thinners.

Suggest you search for them on here for specifics of how best to use (e.g. diluted, times before rinsing etc).

Neither are particulalry "nice" and appropriate protection will be required both for you during use, and for the boat afterwards. If neither of those work then I think its permanent!

[jwalker]

It sounds like mold growth. It could well be down into the structure of the hypalon. If it is mold, solvents don''t usually affect it. Bleach is a good mold remover. You could try a household mold removing spray. Dunno what effect it will have on the material though.

[markb]

Originally Posted by Polwart

Steve,

There are two generic products people on here swear by (as well as Rib Revive - which I guess is either what you used or similar). Either TFR - "Traffic Film Remover"; or spray paint thinners.

Suggest you search for them on here for specifics of how best to use (e.g. diluted, times before rinsing etc).

Neither are particulalry "nice" and appropriate protection will be required both for you during use, and for the boat afterwards. If neither of those work then I think its permanent!

Be very careful using thinners as although it will propably remove the offending mark it will also disolve the tube material so use sparingly and test on an inconspicuous area first

[codprawn]

Petrol works very well as a solvent and isn't too agressive. If that doesn't work it could be mould as JW said.

TFR is great for cleaning tubes but has to be over 50% mixed with water. Use a soft scrubbing brush.

[GED]

If its like black dots within the fabric....nothing removes them

[Heart-trouble]

how about some daz (other washing powders are available)

[simonnud]

Orca the hyplalon makers have brought out a " deep Cleaner " we tryed it on an old boat with black spots and did a very good job it will need several applications and is very costly but worth a go.

I think it is bleach based.

Google Orca and contact them direct.

[biffer]

i had black dots on my yellow boat and tried everything, i started with the usual stuff and slowly got more and more aggressive, i emailed all the tude material people and never got a reply back, i finished up double skinning to whole nose of my ribs just to get rid of them, but before we covered them up i sanded through one and it seems to be the under layer is trying to push its way through the outer layer, the other thing that accured to me is that if the under layer had bumps in it the more you cleaned it the more they showed because you're making the outer layer thinner, i may be wrong but i still never found anything to get them out, best thing i got for my boat was a breathable all over cover

[Steve Hackett]

Thanks guys,
I'll try a few suggestions but do have to be careful as they're not my boats ! I've got some hypalon to experiment with thinners etc, i haven't found TFR here yet but will try again.
I'll let you know if anything works.
Steve

[Rodan]

Originally Posted by GED

If its like black dots within the fabric....nothing removes them

Yes it does.... Milton baby Bottle sterilising liquid clears them in a matter of minutes, no need to really scrub. Also works wonders on bathroom tiles and grout with the same problems....

[biffer]

Originally Posted by Rodan

Yes it does.... Milton baby Bottle sterilising liquid clears them in a matter of minutes, no need to really scrub. Also works wonders on bathroom tiles and grout with the same problems....

i've gotta try that, i've had the tubes completely renewed on my yellow boat, henshaws couldn't even get them out!!

[jwalker]

Originally Posted by Rodan

Yes it does.... Milton baby Bottle sterilising liquid clears them in a matter of minutes, no need to really scrub. Also works wonders on bathroom tiles and grout with the same problems....

How did you find that one out!?

[Rodan]

Originally Posted by jwalker

How did you find that one out!?

Right here on Ribnet!!!! - tried it on canvas on a pushchair and never looked back.... decking, shower, sink, smelly shoes, garden furniture, smelly pipes!

[Rogue Wave]

tfr is essentially for cleaning the curtain sides of trucks so try a trade truck factors/motor factors. but the baby fluid sound a result

[fred bolton]

this may not be very helpful but there is a product out there somewhere that claims to remove mould from silicone sealant but I can't remember where i have seen it maybe lidl

[Rogue Wave]

screwfix does it! By the way on the subject of washing powder David Manning is very fond of Omo

[codprawn]

Originally Posted by Rogue Wave

screwfix does it! By the way on the subject of washing powder David Manning is very fond of Omo

Look out humour seems to have been banned.............

[Rogue Wave]

not good humour!